Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-10-27
BEL-HAzzAR's FEAST.
By PERrISAx.


Twas night in Babylon. and the full moon,
Like silver, glistened in the eastern sky;
The season OF the year was balmy June,
And perfumed zephyrs we're gently float
The night was glorious, and overhead
The stars, like gems, seemed strung ON silvei
thread.
Within the palace walls was revelry,
And beauty and brave men were gathered
thero:'
The proudest scions OF syrIa's chiva'ry,
Decked in their garments rich beyond com
pare;
And every soul seemed brilliant and bright,
In tone, in keeping with the perfumed night
Belshazzar sat upon throne OF gold,
Men bowed to him as II he was god"
Brav warriors, who in the field were bold,
Shook like girl at tho Kings angry nod;
Belshazznr was tyrant and his breath
Decreed at will the greatest subjects death.
Belshazzar Toasted with his concubines--
The richest winos OF Syria freely flowed;
Gay forms were decked with rubies from the
mines
That Nature had ON Syria bestowed
30 lavish had the hand of Nature been,
NO feast like this on tho whole earth was seen
The feast was tagging, when Belshazzar cried
Bring forth the sacred vessels, fill them high
With the bcst wines within my vaults espied
Tonight we drink, tomorrow we may die.
mean the w ssels sacred to the Lord
Tho prizes taken by my fathers sword.
when my great father to JIdca went,
Aud killed the Israelitb with spoar and sword,
He brought the people captive TO his tent
And spoiled the temple built unto the Lord
My gracious father din whatee or he pleased
lie all the golden holy vessels seized.
Our god, great Baal. hath never boon de-
His votar,es flourish like the Syrian date;
Ills temple affairs mover were dehled-
He was, lie is, the Rrbiter OF fate.
Fill you the sacred goblets to the brim,
We bow to Baal honor and health to himr
The blessed vessels Solomon hal mado
Were brought in nlled with the rich Syrian
wine
And all tn ir storied beauty was displayed
Unto tho gaze OF each foul concubine,
Who tempted Heaven by actions so unwise,
Nothing should shock-nothing should cause
surprise.
The King had seized the cup, and his full lips
- Had almost tasted the red wine within it;
Ho soos sight his senses doth eclipse;
he reels, stag ers, and falls down that minute
What was It made him Lose his brains com
maud?
Ue WRITING an saattal. .l@a hand
Ho gazed, with palsy 3. ook, the courtiers' eyes
Followed tho lino of Nision to tue wall;
They saw the hand still writing, aud surprise
And feur their braven senses did appull.
what is Il Q meaning OF this dreadful thing?
Docs IL moan death TO US, or to the kingH
Bring in tho magi. Let them the writing 500.
Let them decipher what the writin mean
Then from the banquet hall the guests did flee,
OercOme W tn terror ut the unusual scene.
The magi came ana looked, but could not tell
Wit nee caue the words from Heaven or from
He'll.
One came unto tho King and thus he spoke:
There is in Babyll II a foreign youth;
He is n Jew mis- VOWS he never broke;
He worships God, and always speaks tie
truth.
think oh King that he could tell to thee
What means tho writing on the wall we see.'
Daniel Gas brought within tho banquet hall
lie saw tho writing. and was sore amazed;
Ho read the words translated upon the wall,
Then on the King no, sorrowinJ, mournful.
gazCd
And said "Oh. King. this fdtoful mes sage reads
Thou and thy house are givcn unto the
Modes"
Belshazsar days were numbered at that time ;
-God's' vengeance was decreed against his
head;
He had been tried and found guilty Of crime
Whom God" condemns may be accounted
dend.
The next days sun saw Babylon city ta'on;
The King and all his family were slain.